Q. Is there a mitzva to eat garlic on Friday night for women? What happens if the garlic smell bothers the spouse, is it still a mitzva?
A. See question above. The Talmud (Bava Kama 82a) mentions other health benefits to consuming garlic, adding that it also induces love and decreases envy, qualities beneficial and needed by women too. Therefore Rosh (ibid.) and others maintain that it applies to all including the single (Maase Rav 124) as is apparent from Talmud (Nedarim 31a) in regards to one who makes an oath negating benefit from garlic consumers.
Frying or cooking garlic greatly reduces its odour and that may be one of the reasons why Poskim mention that this is the way to eat it. (See question above). Eating an apple or drinking tea also helps.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit”a opinion is that if the garlic odour bothers the spouse, common sense demands that it should be avoided as Sholom Bais overrides.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a
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